Israeli Forces Wound One Hundred Palestinian Protesters
Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets in support of six Palestinians who escaped from an Israeli prison, while Israeli authorities arrested relatives of the escapees (Dawn)
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that Israeli forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas at Palestinian protesters, wounding one hundred Palestinians across the West Bank (Al Jazeera)
Israeli Forces Search for Palestinian Prison Escapees, Launch Air Strikes in Gaza
Israeli security forces launched an operation to recapture six Palestinians who they said escaped from one of the country’s highest-security prisons. Israel conducted air strikes in Gaza after Gaza launched incendiary balloons to Israel to show support for the prison escapees (Washington Post)
Israel Objects to U.S. Reopening Consulate for Palestinian Affairs
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said that reopening a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem for Palestinian affairs is a “bad idea” that could destabilize Israel’s government. A U.S. spokesperson said Washington plans to go through with the decision (Reuters)
Israel to Ease Restrictions on Gaza
Israel announced that it will boost water supplies to the Gaza Strip and increase the territory’s fishing permissions. Israel tightened restrictions on Gaza after the country’s conflict with Hamas in May (Haaretz)
Israel Announces Loan to Palestinian Territories After Rare High-Level Talks
Israel’s Ministry of Defense said the country will loan the Palestinian Authority some $155 million following what appeared to be the first high-level talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials since 2014. The talks came after President Biden urged Israel to take measures to improve living conditions for Palestinians (Al Jazeera)
Israeli Prime Minister Bennett to Meet With Biden
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is set to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House today. Bennett said in an interview that he plans to dissuade Biden from reviving the nuclear deal with Iran and said he will not support U.S. plans to reopen a consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem (New York Times)
Both leaders have suggested they aim for a reset in the U.S.-Israel relationship following the departure of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after twelve years. Still, Biden and Bennett hold different positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including on Israeli settlement building and Palestinian statehood (Reuters)
Egypt Closes Border With Gaza to Pressure Hamas
Egypt closed its main border crossing with the Gaza Strip yesterday in connection with efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza, Egyptian officials said. The move is reportedly meant to pressure Hamas into making progress in negotiations (Associated Press)
Israel Strikes Hamas Targets in Gaza
The Israeli military said its aircraft struck Hamas sites in Gaza over the weekend, following demonstrations in which Palestinian protesters near the Gaza-Israel border fence threw explosives at Israeli troops. Forty-one Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were wounded (Reuters)
Israel, Qatar Reach Agreement on UN Aid for Gaza
Israel, Qatar, and the United Nations reached an agreement that will allow funds for the Gaza Strip to be transferred through Qatar (Haaretz)
The aid transfer had been stalled in part over concerns that funds could reach Hamas, the armed group that rules Gaza (Al Jazeera)
Israel Intercepts Rocket Fired From Gaza
Israel’s air-defense system intercepted a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, the first rocket fire since the May conflict between Israel and Hamas. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, which came after four Palestinians were killed in clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the West Bank (Al Jazeera)
Israel to Authorize New Construction in the West Bank
The country will authorize new housing construction in the occupied West Bank for both Jewish settlers and Palestinians living in Israel-controlled Area C. The move allows the building of new homes in settlements for the first time in ten months and marks the first time in several years that Israel has authorized Palestinian homes in Area C (Axios)
Palestinian Man Killed at Funeral Protests by Israeli Forces
A Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli forces at protests during the West Bank funeral of a 12-year-old boy who had also been shot by Israeli forces a day earlier, the Palestinian health ministry said. Thousands of people attended the funeral procession, where clashes broke out as people reportedly threw rocks at Israeli soldiers (CNN)
Former UN Rights Chief to Lead Probe in Israel, Palestinian Territories
Former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay will lead a probe into violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in Israel, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. The investigation is a result of a special session of the UN Human Rights Council that followed the conflict in Gaza in early May between Israel and Palestinian militants (Agence France-Presse, Times of Israel)
U.S. to Pause on Palestinian Consulate in Jerusalem
Washington is holding off on reopening a consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem until after the new Israeli government passes a budget in an effort to support its stability, an Israeli official said (Times of Israel)
Israel Strikes Hamas Site in Response to Incendiary Balloons
Israeli aircraft bombed a Hamas weapons-manufacturing site in response to incendiary balloons launched from Gaza, Israel’s military said. No casualties were immediately reported. Egypt and the United Nations have increased their efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas (Reuters)
Israeli Settlers to Leave Site in West Bank
Israel’s government announced that Jewish settlers will leave the site of a new, unauthorized settlement in the occupied West Bank that Palestinians have protested against. The settlers’ homes will remain and be protected by soldiers (New York Times)
Critic of Palestinian Authority Dies During Arrest
Nizar Banat, an outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority (PA), died when Palestinian security forces arrested him at his home in the West Bank. His cousin said they beat Nizar with an iron bar during the arrest. UN and European Union representatives called for a full investigation of Banat’s death (Associated Press)
Israel Strikes Gaza Again After Militants Launch More Incendiary Balloons
Israeli air strikes targeted sites in Gaza for the second time since Wednesday after Palestinian militants sent incendiary balloons into Israel for the third consecutive day. No casualties were immediately reported (New York Times)
Israel Launches Air Strikes Into Gaza
Israel launched air strikes on Gaza in response to incendiary balloons that Palestinian militant groups flew over Israel. They were the first such strikes since a truce that ended an eleven-day conflict last month. No casualties were immediately reported. The groups floated the balloons in response to a right-wing march in Jerusalem during which thirty-three Palestinian protesters were injured (CNN)
Israel’s Netanyahu Out as New Coalition Government Sworn In
By a vote of 60 to 59, Israel’s legislature approved an ideologically diverse coalition government that sidelines former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The new government was sworn in on Sunday night, with right-wing Naftali Bennett set to lead as prime minister for two years, followed by centrist Yair Lapid for another two (Haaretz)
Right-Wing March Through Jerusalem Canceled
The organizers of a march through Jerusalem set for Thursday canceled the event after Israeli police told them they would not be allowed to pass through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. The march, in which right-wing Jewish groups would have celebrated the 1967 reunification of Jerusalem, was originally scheduled for last month but was postponed due to increased Israeli-Palestinian tensions (Haaretz)
New Israeli Coalition Threatens to Oust Netanyahu
Ideologically diverse leaders of Israel’s opposition reached a deal to form a government that could unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after twelve years in power. The new coalition, which still needs parliamentary approval, would have far-right nationalist Naftali Bennett serve as prime minister for two years before secular centrist Yair Lapid takes over (Financial Times)
It would also include an independent party of Palestinian citizens of Israel, the United Arab List, for the first time in history, though no Palestinians would hold cabinet seats (New York Times)
Israeli Politicians Move Toward Deal to Sideline Netanyahu
Ultranationalist Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid are in talks to create an ideologically mixed coalition government that removes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power. The deadline to form a coalition is tomorrow (New York Times)
UN Launches Permanent Commission on Israel, Palestinian Territories
The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution establishing a permanent commission of inquiry to monitor rights violations in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. It is the first such commission with a continuous mandate (Associated Press)
Blinken Begins Mideast Tour to Bolster Gaza Truce
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began a series of visits in the Middle East that aim to shore up a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that has been in effect since Friday. The truce ended eleven days of fighting that left more than 250 people dead (Associated Press)
In Jerusalem, Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned that Hamas would face a “very powerful” response if it breaks the cease-fire. Blinken said Israelis and Palestinians “equally deserve to live safely and securely” and pledged to rally support for humanitarian aid to Gaza that does not benefit Hamas. He will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah today and will go on to visit Egypt and Jordan (Reuters)